Nitish Kumar Reddy's future questioned after failure in Australia

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra is not confident about the young allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's recent form. Chopra spoke based on Reddy's form in the unofficial Test series between Australia A and India A.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is a part of India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His skillsets make him an exciting option for the bouncy pitches in Australia. However, his recent form hasn't been great.

The youngster scored just 71 runs across four innings at an average of 17.75 with the bat. Reddy wasn't at his best with the ball too. He picked up just a solitary wicket in two Tests at an average of 80.

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Aakash Chopra questions young allrounder's form

While speaking in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra asked the team management to speak up to Nitish Kumar Reddy before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He added that the 21-year-old hasn't performed well in the unofficial Test series.

"Nitish Kumar Reddy needs to be spoken about because the performance has been very cold in the two matches (between India A and Australia A). In batting, he hasn't scored runs, and in bowling, he has picked up just one wicket," Chopra said.

Chopra also reasoned out why there was the need to select Nitish Kumar Reddy in the squad. He named the skillsets that Reddy has in his armory and feels that they can help India in the series.

"We are thinking of fast-tracking him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is the kind of player, medium pacer, and batter, who provides us depth and balance because we won't be able to play four pacers in Perth. We want to play four pace options but the fourth cannot be an out-and-out pacer," the former India opener added.

India's search for fast bowling allrounder

Nitish Kumar Reddy is young but hugely talented. Over the years, India has struggled to find a fast bowling allrounder, especially for the longer format of the game. Hardik Pandya played that role for some time but constant injuries did not allow him to play Tests for long.

The Men in Blue also tried Shardul Thakur as a bowling allrounder. However, Shardul went through surgery and needs to perform in the ongoing Ranji Trophy to get his place back in the team.

Aakash Chopra speaks on Nitish Kumar Reddy's first-class record

Further speaking on the topic, Aakash Chopra spoke about Nitish Kumar Reddy's limited experience in first-class cricket which makes him vulnerable for Test cricket. He noted that Reddy's form hasn't been promising so far.

"That is why I am saying that we are showing a lot of confidence in Nitish Kumar Reddy, but I really hope it works out, because firstly the first-class experience is limited and secondly, the returns in the two matches in Australia aren't looking very promising with the bat and also with the ball," Chopra reckoned.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has played 23 first-class matches and scored 779 runs at an ordinary average of 21.05 so far. The youngster has picked up 56 wickets with his medium-pace at an average of 26.98 with 2 five-wicket hauls.'

The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will be played from November 22 in Perth. The next four Tests of the series will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.